The minimum $500-a-head affair is not terribly surprising, since Cuomo and Jennings have had a historically close relationship and the AG backed Jennings in this year’s Democratic mayoral primary over Councilman Corey Ellis.

Of course, it won’t do much to quell the rumor du jour that Jennings might make a fetching lieutenant governor should Cuomo, as most suspect, challenge Gov. David Paterson next year.

That said, there are plenty of reasons to believe that won’t happen, too — not the least of which being that Jennings just spent a considerable amount of money and a fair amount of energy winning re-election, claiming he could not leave the city in such dire fiscal times.

And it’s only gonna get worse in 2011 when the state’s annual PILOT on the South Mall is scheduled to drop $7.8 million.

Then again, we suppose you could make the argument that the best way to lobby state government is to become a part of it.

If you can’t beat’em … join’em?

For record-keeping purposes, that would make Common Council President-elect Carolyn McLaughlin mayor.

Yes, To avoid even the suspicion of a conflict of interest, Mayor Jennings should hold the fund raiser somewhere else. The University Club, maybe? Or a locally owned commercial establishment? Mayor Jennings should know better, but apparently he has grown so arrogant that he doesn’t care about appearances.

Jennings has a keen sense of who will be the better candidate. When Chuck Schumer first ran for office, Jennings was one of the first Albany County politicos to endorse him. The result: funding for 25 more cops on the APD. He was the first upstate Mayor to endorse Bill Clinton for President. Result: Millions of Federal $ for the city of Albany. He endorsed George Pataki vs. Carl McCall, for Gov. in Pataki’s 2nd term, ticking off many Dems. Result: Hundreds of Millions of dollars in jobs and business to the city. Seems like Jerry has endorsed the candidates that he feels will be best for the City that he serves.
If the Attorney General is his friend and will work toward improving the lives of the people in our city, I say Go For It!

Jennings better serve out his term because if he doesn’t, he will leave the City of Albany in DEEP DO-DO. And he knows it. I didn’t vote for him to have him leave; and I won’t vote for Cuomo if he runs with Jennings.

Saying that Jennings might not leave the city to take another job because he said “he could not leave the city in such dire fiscal times” is rather naive.

He also said he wouldn’t expand into the Pine Bush. Promised, no less.

He also said he didn’t know about ghost tickets.

He also said he didn’t know about Tuffey’s “spook” comment and he had nothing to do with Tuffey quitting so suddenly.

There are many other examples.

He says a lot of things that have nothing to do with the facts or the truth and everything to do with what is best for him.

It would be nice if your paper would call him on this more often as opposed to endorsing a man who has no history of telling the truth. If a newspaper doesn’t hold the truth as all important, what does that say about what they will be willing to print?

I have no problem with the Orange Club. Won’t catch me dead chilling there but if the libs can be a bunch of pretentious “pass the Grey Pupon” elitist, then why can’t the conservatives? I find more snootyness with libs than with cons.

Jerry will stay as mayor because he said he would. (ok im back after 2 minutes of LMAO). He needs to finish the job. (another 2 minutes) whatever the hell that means.

Scarff – what exactly did JJ do to get that funding for the cops? Other than just being alive.

the city’s financial problems will probably drive the tanfather out of the job. and us out of the city.

Facts – The TU is not going to call him out on anything. They didn’t even care that he was not specific with anything. The TU is looking for a phat deal that will move the paper into the city and since that requires a new building (BBL), they can’t criticize the mayor. At least that’s the only reason I have for them to support a man who has not been honest about where the city is heading.

When those 2010 census numbers come in, I want the remaining citizens to impeach the mayor. oh wait, that means fredo McLaughlin takes over. I take that back.

Alas, the Times-Union does not cover city government nearly as well as it should. And, as other commenters here have noted, the paper does not hold Jennings accountable. They do not dig for the “story behind the story” in city affairs. For example, the real scenario of former Police Chief Tuffey was never revealed. There are other examples.

Common Sense, what Jerry did to get the 25 cops on the street was to endorse and work for Chuck Schumer. Its that simple, you see. When a sitting Mayor takes a chance on endorsing a candidate and they win it becomes a very good thing for the people of the city that he represents. Schumer got the money for the 25 additional cops on the force.